la vie en rose

The other day I realized that it has been 9 (nine) years since J and I have known each other. Whoa.

I was a sophomore in high school, but my locker was downstairs with the juniors. One fine spring day I was walking down the hall when I realized that this tall, hairy Swede was following me. He asked me about my t-shirt. (I was really into Sailor Moon at the time.)
Matt asked if I would like to take part in a photography project he was working on. I think it was because I make wild gestures when I talk. How did he know that? And can that kind of energy be captured on film? I was a little frightened by both thoughts. I said I would think about it. A couple days later he came up to me again and asked if I wanted to go to 4000 Holes on Monroe Street (Spokaneites - remember that place?). A record store seemed much safer than a photo shoot. He said he'd be bringing a friend. I searched all day for someone to go with me - nobody could. I was a little frightened again.

After school we met at my locker - me, Matt the Swede, and his friend, a Japanese boy who was very cute (and he skateboarded! I was really into skaters then, too (still am)). We all piled into a tiny white Ford Festiva (J laid in the back, because there was no backseat, really) and we headed downtown. They were both really nice to me and J was especially funny. I didn't buy anything at the record store. I was too nervous that I would buy the wrong music and then get made fun of. We went to Jack in the Box and here's where I knew it was meant to be: J and I ordered the exact same thing, unbeknownst to each other: Jumbo Jack with cheese, no tomato, and a Dr. Pepper. As we locked eyes over this discovery, we knew that the stars has aligned and that somehow we would be together, with or without tomatoes. He tenderly held my hand and as I dabbed the ketchup off his chin, we stumbled to think of the right words to describe the connection that could not be denied.

Totally kidding! We had a good laugh and we discussed the virtues of a good fountain drink of Dr. Pepper with crushed ice.